Police in Virginia arrested a heavily armed man at a preschool in McLean, potentially preventing a tragedy. Eric Sandow, 32, was arrested on Tuesday after trespassing on the grounds of Dolley Madison Preschool. He could not get into the school building, and staff contacted the police, who arrived and promptly arrested him. His arrest came just one day before the first anniversary of the brutal killings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, one of the deadliest school shootings in US history.
While speaking with police, Sandow allegedly told officers he had weapons in his car. After a search, investigators reportedly found an AK-47, a pistol, and multiple rounds of ammunition, per a news release obtained by CNN. Sandow was less than two miles from CIA headquarters and numerous landmarks like the National Mall. Now that he's in police custody, investigators are looking for a motive.
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Sandow wanted to get into the preschool.
Sandow asked permission to enter the school to use the bathroom, but he was denied entry, according to a statement from the preschool obtained by ABC 7. The administration asserted this was for the safety of students and staff.
“A man was arrested yesterday after trespassing on Immanuel Presbyterian Church and Dolley Madison Preschool grounds. He requested access to the building facilities to use the restroom, which was denied by school staff. At no point did he gain physical entrance to the school building,” the statement reads in part.
A call was made to Fairfax County Police, who responded and found Sandow near his car on the school’s property. After searching his vehicle and reportedly finding weapons, Sandow was arrested.
Sandow reportedly admitted he had weapons in the car.
CNN reported that according to police, Sandow admitted there were guns in his car, but police said the weapons never left the vehicle and that he did not appear to be working with anyone else.
“Sandow did not make any threats and the weapons never left the vehicle,” Fairfax County Police noted, per CNN. Court documents obtained by the news outlet state that Sandow was incoherent and paranoid when speaking with police.
He claimed to be working with the CIA.
During his arrest, Sandow reportedly told police that he “worked for the CIA,” court documents state. Upon further investigation, Sandow and the government agency seemed to have no ties.
CNN reported that Sandow had a previous arrest on domestic battery charges in 2014 in Florida, but the charges were dropped because the victim decided not to prosecute. Additionally, Sandow does not appear to have an active social media presence, and the news outlet could not confirm a political affiliation.
The timing of the reported incident is alarming.
ABC 7 noted that Sandow’s arrest comes the morning after 19-year-old Sai Varsith Kandula reportedly tried to drive a U-Haul truck into the White House in an alleged attempt to kill President Joe Biden. His arrest was just eight days after Xuan-Kha Tran Pham reportedly attacked two people with a bat in a congressman’s office. Despite all of this, Fairfax County Police told the news outlet in an interview that they do not believe the incidents are connected.
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Sandow is in jail.
Sandow was taken to Fairfax County’s Adult Detention Center, according to the New York Post.
He requested a public defender and has not entered a plea, CCN reported. Because of concerns for public safety, a judge decided to hold Sandow without bond, according to court records. Sandow was charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property. He was expected to appear in court Thursday morning.
